Vandal Football Penalized by NCAA, Bowl Ineligible for 2014

MOSCOW, Idaho – April 26, 2014 – The NCAA on Saturday levied penalties against the University of Idaho football team after it failed to meet Academic Progress Rate (APR) standards for the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons.

As a result of the academic progress shortfall, the Vandals will be ineligible for post-season bowl games or the College Football Playoff during the 2014 football season. Additionally, they will lose four hours of practice time per week – an amount that must be devoted to study hall. The football APR scores that led to the sanctions for the 2014 season were 971 in 2009, 921 in 2010, 881 in 2011 and 838 in 2012 for a four-year average of 903.

“We respect the NCAA’s rules and take full responsibility for these penalties,” said Rob Spear, University of Idaho’s Director of Athletics. “We are disappointed that the progress already made and the changes we began implementing in 2011 to correct the academic deficiencies were not fully recognized.”

Beginning in 2011, the University of Idaho athletics department made some very serious and substantive modifications to the football program in order to address the APR score decline. Some of these actions include:

· Increased academic support for student-athletes from two FTEs to 4½ FTEs;

· Increased support for and access to student-athlete tutoring services;

· Invested $110,000 to upgrade facilities and technology including a computer lab and quiet study area in the Kibbie Dome;

· Developed a corrective action plan in December 2011 outlining future expectations;

· Took decisive action in October 2012 after a disproportionate number of student-athletes had failing grades at mid-term;

“My commitment to education mirrors my commitment to football,” said football coach Paul Petrino, who was hired in December 2012. “Our players will attend class. They will graduate. They will value and take advantage of the educational opportunities they are being given. Our projected APR for the 2013 team is 960, and we intend to make sure we attain it.

“It’s unfortunate that the players who are here now and are working hard, going to class and doing things right, are paying the penalty for the past.”

In addition to the projected APR of 960 for 2013, collective GPAs for Petrino’s teams were 2.5 in the spring and fall 2013 and 2.89 in summer 2013.

Spear reiterated Coach Petrino’s commitment to the importance of academic as well as athletic success.

“The number one goal of our athletic program is to educate and graduate student-athletes,” he said. “The University of Idaho intercollegiate athletics program is absolutely devoted to providing and facilitating a first-class education to our student-athletes. The fact that 15 of our 16 programs uphold our academic mandates and comply with NCAA APR standards is indicative of our commitment to academics.”

University of Idaho President Chuck Staben said the university will use this circumstance as an opportunity to improve. “I have made it clear that I expect all University of Idaho athletics programs to meet NCAA academic standards,” Staben said. “I am pleased by the academic progress the football program has already made and I am confident in the plan that Coach Petrino and Athletics Director Rob Spear have provided to move forward.”

All sports programs at NCAA institutions receive an APR score at the end of each school year. Scores are compiled based on points given for eligibility and retention for every student-athlete each semester. Under this scoring system, every student-athlete can receive a maximum of four points. The APR score for each school is based on a percentage, so the maximum score any school can receive is 1,000 (or 100 percent). Schools that receive a rating of 930 or less over a four-year period are subject to penalties.

The NCAA requires extraordinary mitigating circumstances in order to grant a waiver for penalties assessed for low APR scores.

The University of Idaho’s athletics department included the following extraordinary mitigating circumstances in its appeal:

1. Upheaval among the intercollegiate athletic conferences

2. A loss of almost $1 million in revenue – the majority from television and conference revenue

3. Significant behavioral issues within the football program

“I thought we made a compelling case regarding the extraordinary circumstances that began in June 2010,” said Spear. “At the end of the day, we accept the penalties and have used this adversity to make our athletic program stronger.”

About the University of Idaho

The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals, and competes in the Western Athletic Conference. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.

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